Last week, the Federal Trade Commission gave a stamp of approval to a background check company that screens job applicants based on their Internet photos and postings. The FTC determined that Social Intelligence Corp. was in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This means a search of what you’ve said or posted to Facebook/Twitter/Flickr/blogs and the Internet in general may become a standard part of background checks when you apply for a job.

No big deal, right? You already knew that employers were Googling you. I argued this was actually better, because Social Intelligence has to make sure its clients inform job applicants if they took adverse action based on something found on the Internet. That way you can delete and change privacy settings accordingly.

But there’s a wrinkle. If something job-threatening pops up on Facebook or Flickr or Craigslist in a search of you, Social Intelligence puts it into your file — and it stays there for seven years.

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"Grace without truth leads to licentiousness.
Truth without grace leads to legalism and bondage."​

Gilly (Member of RF)​

“How do you, in the name of tolerance and diversity,
accept that we, as Christians, have principles we’ve got to live by?”​

We've discussed this where I work and while I have a facebook page that I try really hard not to say anything that could be used against me for jobs, it's also tough as heck. Plus, I have an old blog that I posted on while in college years ago. Oh dear....:

Once it's out there, it's pretty much out there for life and beyond. Just gotta be careful that you don't say anything that the govt could use against you. Which would be pretty much everything....

Google yourself and see what all you can find. You would be surprised at how much is out there if you use your real name on anything. If you google your username even the things you put on RF will come up. Anything that is written in a passworded forum or privacy protected might yield nothing, or it might bring up the log in page, letting the employer know there is "stuff" linked to your name out there, but they cannot see what.

My old employer used to do the "google" searches on job applicants, it's very common. Guess what?? The guys and girls half-naked, partying and obviously drunk in every picture never got hired. My daughter will graduate in a year. I told her she needs to get her facebook cleaned up and delete all her partying pictures, or even delete that old account and make a new one, and be picky about the friends you have, because not only will prospective employers snoop on you, they will snoop on your friends too, don't think you are not judged by the people you are "friends" with, because your prospective employer doesn't know you haven't hung out with the long-haired, stoner dude for over 20 years.

Social networking has become a dream for employers, they really can be super picky in a tight market, they can look for the cream of the crop. Also don't think having everything on "privacy" settings will make a difference. My old employer didn't even consider people that she couldn't snoop on.